# Another floating point inconsistency thing...

H. Peter Anvin (hpa@trantor.storm.net)
Sun, 11 Feb 1996 16:15:26 PST

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    In article <TCPSMTP.16.2.11.15.52.14.2239992234.209759@bbs.calbbs.com>,
     <sysop@calbbs.com> wrote:
    >;3.
    >Line 1:  syntax error
    >1 error.
    >;tofloat("3.")
    >=> 3.0
    >[used 2 ticks, 0 seconds.]
    >

    True, but it is harmless.  The reason 3. is rejected in code is that
    it is very difficult for the parser to determine if the "." is really
    intended to be a decimal point or not (as opposed to a range, for
    example).  In the case of tofloat() there isn't anything else it
    *could* be, so it seems it would be pretty silly to restrict it just
    in order to throw a fit.

    	-hpa

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